Thursday, August 11, 2016

AUTOS: Ford GT's Now and Then

This fine example of the All conquering NASTY Ford
GT 40 MK II, the ex-Holman & Moody No. 4 driven by Mark Donohue and Paul
Hawkins at Le Mans in 1966 was on display at the IMS Museum circa 2012. (The
Tomaso Collection)

FoMoCo' celebrates its Golden Anniversary of
Overall Victory at Le Mans in fine style with the just announced Heritage edition
Ford GT...

SHELBY AMERICAN
RACERS

The following list is just a partial sampling of
the various drivers who raced the GT 40 for 'Ol Shel', nee Carroll Shelby circa
1964-67...

Obviously Ford's still reveling in the splendor
of having won at Le Mans 50yrs after it's debutant victory at Circuit de la
Sarthe, wishing us to focus upon these accolades instead of the unsavory
behaviour of Edsel Ford II regarding his Domestic Violence arrest...

thus, Y'all certainly know by now, that upon
that summer's day in France, Chris amon and co-driver Bruce McLaren were
declared the winners of the 1966 24 Heurs du Mansahead of Ken Milesand Denny "The Bear" Hulme inFoMoCo's botched Photo-finish.

Interestingly, Chris Amon who notes it's
probably his racing career's defining moment, the Kiwi actually first drove one
of 'Ol Shel's "Second Tier" Cobra Daytona Coupes with Jochen
Neerpasch, ironically entered by Briggs Cunningham in
1964, when the Ford GT 40 first burst on the scene.

And then the rest is history, as the Kiwi duo
of Amon and Bruce McLaren in that Oh, So BITCHIN' black No. 2 GT 40 were
victorious at Le Mans, as I've had the privilege of seeing this car in the
flesh at Mother Speedway's Hall of Fame; Err Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Museum, 'Wayback in Twenty-oh-One Me Thinks...

Amon jumped ship to rival Scuderia Ferrari
the following year, whilst Carroll Shelby's Factory backed Ford GT 40 Squad
returned to Le Mans with the totally new Mk IV variant, internally dubbed the
"J-Car." Also being victorious with A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney at its
keyboard, before the governing body made the seven litre big block V-8's
illegal, and with this Ford effectively pulled its factory backing from Shelby
American, Inc regarding Sports Car racing.

SELECTED DRIVERS
RECOLLECTIONS

Racer magazine posted the following interviews with
selected past GT 40 drivers in the build-up to this year's running of the
endurance classic.

Dan Gurney

Team: Shelby American

Years: 1964-67

It's hard to believe that Dan Gurney has just
celebrated his 85th birthday this past April 13th... As although for Mwah,
Gurney's name is synonymous with Formula 1. Gurney also was quite prolific at
some 'lil Oval track at 16th & Georgetown - ultimately winning the Indy 500
three times overall as a Constructor, including once as team owner.

Gurney was also a quick hand in Sports Cars,
including endurance racing, having begun his association with Carroll Shelby in
the Cobra Daytona Coupes, which were the highest finishing Ford in 1964. Then
returning again to Le Mans in the Daytona one final time with soon to be
long-term co-driver Jerry Grant.

In '66 the pair graduated to the NASTY GT 40
Mk II as part of Shelby's three car team entry, being the only car to not
finish from the Shelby American trio. Then Y'all know 'bout Dan's success with
a "Soft Spoken" Texan named A.J. the following year, arguably
Gurney's biggest international racing victory!

"SuperMario" presumably drove for
Holman & Moody due to his Stock Car endeavours? Making his debut at Circuit
de la Sarthe in 1966 alongside Lucien
Bianchi.As
interestingly, America's only two F1 world champions raced against each other
at Le Mans between 1966-67. With Phil Hill running the always innovative Chaparral's,
albeit Mario wouldn't become world champion until 1978 for another innovator
named Colin Chapman.

And if you're wondering about his co-driver's
last name being Bianchi, as the pair 'O Italian Aces contested Le Mans together
twice. Yeah, he was related to the deceased Marussia F1 driver Jules Bianchi.
As Lucien
was Jule's Great Uncle, brother of Jules Grandfather Mauro, whom also raced at
Le Mans, while both also contested Grands Prix.

As Lucien would win at Circuit de la Sarthe the
following year (1968) with the late Pedro Rodriguez aboard the John Wyer
Automotive Engineering Ford GT 40 before dying at Le Mans during testing a year
later.

'Ol Hobbo, nee Messer Hobbs is currently best
known for his long running colour commentating role for F1 Stateside, having
worn many Hats in his long media career, since I can still recall him as a Pit
Reporter for the Daytona 500.

Hobbs is another of the cadre of "All
Rounders,' racing anything he could get behind the wheel in. And if memory
serves me correctly? He contested le 24 Heurs du Mans 20-times, where he
finished third overall behind the team's winning entry in '69.

and while David's known for falling asleep on
the grid at Mother Speedway before the Indy 500 began, most probably don't
remember that he won the SCCA Pro Racing's Trans Am championship in '83.

And now on the heels of their class victory
in the GTE Pro category at Le Mans with Chip Ganassi Racing's Stateside entry,
the No. 68 piloted by Joey Hand, le 'Hamburgular, nee Sebastain Bourdais and Dirk
Mueller winning fifty years later, Ford's just announced they'll continue
racing the Ford GT both Stateside and Abroad thru the 2019 season.

FoMoCo's also just released a limited edition
Street version of the 1966 Shelby American No. 2 GT 40 Mk II commemorating said
victories - for purchase by those with chequebooks large enough to acquire said
version, provided they're deemed worthy!